Page 96 - EW April 2024_Neat

Cover Story EW India Private Engineering Colleges Rankings 2024-25

there’s a broad consensus within
academia and industry about India’s
best private engineering colleges,
which are closing the gap which
separates them from the IITs/NITs.
Although for mysterious reasons
ranked a modest #25 in the Union
education ministry’s NIRF (National
Institutional Ranking Framework)
2023, the Birla Institute of Tech-
nology & Science (BITS)-Pilani
(estb.1964) is routinely top-ranked
in the annual EW league table of
India’s Top 100 most admired engi-
neering institutions.
This year, it is ranked #1 for the
second year consecutively fol-
lowed by the low-profile Interna-
tional Institute of Information
Technology (IIIT)-Hyderabad
(estb.1998) which was top-ranked in IIIT-Hyderabad students: combination edge. Inset: Dr. P.J. Narayanan
2022-23. The Vellore Institute of
Technology (VIT) has retained its sitat der Bundeswehr, Munich is its strong connect with industry
#3 ranking of 2023-24, Dhirubhai (Germany) and former director of and its rigorous internships and
Ambani Institute of Informa- IIT-Delhi, who took charge last year “practice schools” programme in
tion, Communication & Tech- as Vice Chancellor of BITS-Pilani which students can work in industry
nology, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) which has established five campuses for an entire semester before
is ranked #4 (cf. 3 in 2023-24) and including in Dabolim (Goa), Mohali graduation. “One of the infirmities
PSG College of Technology, (Punjab) and Dubai and has an ag- of Indian higher education is that
Coimbatore (4) and Manipal gregate 18,000 students mentored it tends to be too theoretical. Our
Institute of Technology (6) are by 470 faculty, is unsurprised by the highly successful internship and
jointly ranked #5 this year. top rank awarded to this institute by longer duration practice schools
T HE 2024-25 TOP 10 table year. become job-ready and hit the ground
EW sample respondents year after
programmes prepare our students to
“Within academia and industry
running when they graduate,” says
is completed by R.V.
College of Engineer-
dents are drawn, BITS-Pilani’s
Although the International
ing, Bengaluru jointly from where your sample respon- Rao.
ranked #6 (6) with Thapar Insti- record as a research powerhouse and Institute of Information Tech-
tute of Engineering & Technol- incubator of start-ups is well-known. nology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H
ogy, Patiala (5); Mahindra Uni- Over the past few years, 6,400 BITS- estb.1998) ranked India’s #1 private
versity’s Ecole Central School Pilani alumni have founded start- engineering college in 2021-22
of Engineering, Hyderabad #7 ups valued at $60 billion of which 15 has been pipped at the post for
(5); SSN College of Engineering, are unicorns. Our research output the second year in succession,
Chennai #7 (7); BMS College of cited in reputed refereed journals is Dr. P.J. Narayanan, an alum of
Engineering, Bangalore #8 (7); among the Top 5 in India. Moreover, IIT-Kharagpur and University of
Hindustan Institute of Tech- the median remuneration awarded Maryland (USA) and director of this
nology & Science, Chennai also to our graduates is Rs.20-22 lakh. deemed university, is not dissatisfied
#8 (9); Shiv Nadar University, Within academia and industry, with the outcome. That’s because
Noida #9 (8); Birla Institute BITS-Pilani is commonly placed on a on every parameter of engineering
of Technology, Mesra (8) and par with the best IITs,” says Ramgo- education excellence including lead-
Amrita School of Engineering, pal Rao, who attributes the insti- ership except research & innovation,
Coimbatore (10) jointly ranked tute’s modest NIRF ranking to its IIIT-H has been awarded higher
#10 in 2024-25. “low profile in government circles”. scores than the top-ranked BITS-
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, an Rao believes that the institute’s Pilani.
alum of IIT-Bombay and Univer- USP (unique selling proposition) “Over the two decades past, as a

96 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2024